Building Advice
Practical building advice from TSAR Building Supplies to help you understand commonly used materials, compare different products and find the right option for your project.
Our guides cover timber, insulation, plasterboard, drylining, groundwork, reinforcing mesh, blocks, lintels, aggregates, fencing and landscaping materials.
Andrew Tsaroulla is our Director of TSAR Building Supplies, for our family-run builders’ merchant supplying building materials across London and Greater London.
Andy’s Advice brings together practical guidance based on his experience in the building supplies industry and the types of product questions customers regularly ask.
From choosing structural timber and loft insulation to understanding reinforcing mesh and metal stud partitioning, these guides are designed to make building materials easier to understand before you order.
Andy’s Advice
Andy’s Advice
Andrew Tsaroulla is our Director of TSAR Building Supplies, for our family-run builders’ merchant supplying building materials across London and Greater London.
Andy’s Advice brings together practical guidance based on his experience in the building supplies industry and the types of product questions customers regularly ask.
From choosing structural timber and loft insulation to understanding reinforcing mesh and metal stud partitioning, these guides are designed to make building materials easier to understand before you order.
Loft Insulation Advice →
Practical guidance on choosing loft insulation, understanding common thicknesses and what to consider before ordering.
Reinforcing Mesh & Groundwork Advice →
Guidance on A142 and A393 mesh, concrete reinforcement and common groundwork applications.
Structural Timber Advice →
Advice on C24 timber, common structural timber sizes and choosing timber for different building applications.
Metal Stud Partitioning Advice →
Guidance on metal C studs, tracks and the components used to create partition wall systems.
Explore Building Advice by Category
Browse practical advice by material type to find useful guides, product comparisons and answers to common building material questions.
Timber Advice
Guides covering structural timber, timber grades, carcassing timber, common sizes and typical building applications.
What is C24 timber and where is it used? →
What structural timber do I need? →
What size structural timber do I need? →
What is carcassing timber used for? →
Insulation Advice
Guides covering loft, wall and floor insulation, different insulation materials and common insulation thicknesses.
How much loft insulation do I need? →
What thickness of loft insulation should I use? →
Rockwool vs PIR insulation →
What insulation should I use for walls? →
What insulation should I use for a loft? →
Plasterboard & Drylining Advice
Guides covering different plasterboard types, specialist wallboards and common drylining applications.
What plasterboard should I use? →
Standard vs moisture-resistant plasterboard →
When should I use Fireline plasterboard? →
What is thermal laminate plasterboard? →
Metal Stud & Partitioning Advice
Guides covering metal C studs, tracks, wall lining systems and the components commonly used for internal partition walls and drylining systems.
What metal studs and tracks do I need? →
How does a metal stud partition work? →
What is an MF ceiling system? →
What is a GL wall lining system? →
Reinforcing Mesh & Groundwork Advice
Guides covering reinforcing mesh, concrete reinforcement and materials commonly used for groundwork and concrete applications.
What is reinforcing mesh used for? →
A142 vs A393 reinforcing mesh →
What reinforcing mesh do I need for groundwork? →
When do you need reinforcing mesh in concrete? →
What thickness should a concrete slab be? →
Sand, Cement & Aggregate Advice
Guides explaining common sands, aggregates and materials used for concrete, mortar, paving and groundwork.
Sharp sand vs building sand →
What is ballast used for? →
What is MOT Type 1 used for? →
What sand should I use for groundwork? →
What sand should I use for bricklaying?
What cement should I use?
Blocks & Lintels Advice
Guides covering masonry products, block types and lintels used within common building applications.
Concrete blocks vs Thermalite blocks →
What do block strength ratings mean? →
What lintel do I need? →
Concrete lintels vs steel lintels →
Fencing & Landscaping Advice
Guides covering fencing products, landscaping timber and materials used for garden, boundary and outdoor projects.
Concrete fence posts vs timber fence posts →
What are concrete gravel boards used for? →
What size fence post do I need? →
What are garden sleepers used for? →
What materials do I need for close board fencing? →
From Advice to the Right Materials
Each Building Advice guide links back to the relevant TSAR product range, making it easier to move from researching a material to checking the products, sizes and specifications available.
Building Advice FAQs
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Our Building Advice guides explain common product differences, specifications and uses. If you need help finding a particular product or size, contact TSAR with your requirements.
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Andy’s Advice is based around practical guidance from Andrew Tsaroulla, Director of TSAR Building Supplies, and the types of building material questions commonly asked by TSAR customers.
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No. The guides provide general product information. Structural, load-bearing and system-specific decisions should follow the relevant project design, manufacturer guidance or professional specification.
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Yes. Each guide will link to the relevant TSAR product category so you can view the products and specifications available.
Need Help Finding the Right Building Material?
If you know what you need, send us your materials list, sizes, quantities and delivery postcode.
If you're still deciding which product is right for your project, explore our Building Advice guides or contact TSAR with your requirements.